JCC Annual Meeting is Night
of Celebration, Commemoration

A number of significant awards were presented at the JCC's Annual Meeting on May 26, including the Lawrence D. Schaffer Shem Tov Award, the Shehechyanu Award, the Rabbi Nathan and Sylvia Gaynor Cultural Award, and the Helen Nutis Volunteer Mitzvah Award. JCC staff who have achieved milestones also were recognized for their service. (To download a copy of the 2008-2009 JCC Annual Meeting Program, click here.)

The Lawrence D. Schaffer Shem Tov Award - The JCC established the Shem Tov Award in honor of Larry Schaffer and his outstanding contributions to the Central Ohio community. The award, which this year went to Pam Gurwin, is presented to an individual who represents the next generation of community leadership.

"I am very appreciative of this recognition because it reaffirms how meaningful it is to work and play with all of the great people at the JCC," said Gurwin.

Gurwin is not only a member of the JCC Board, but also serves on the Gala and Sports Spectacular planning committees, as well as the JCC Communication and Fundraising committees. She also will serve as the 2010 Gala Committee Chair. In addition, she has chaired the Annual Meeting and the Speakers Dinner for Sports Spectacular. She also serves on the board of Jewish Family Services and is co-chairing that organization's Centennial Celebration.

Gurwin is founder of Sweds Events, a special event planning company for bar and bat mitzvahs, business meetings and other celebrations. Previously, she worked in the marketing and events department for Wendy's International. She and her husband, Scott, reside in Gahanna with their two boys, Michael and Joey.

Shehechyanu Award - Holly and Brad Kastan established the Shehechyanu Award to annually recognize an outstanding early childhood teacher at the JCC. This year's recipient, Kim Moore, has been a teacher at the JCC College Avenue Preschool for the past five years. Currently, she is teaching the three- and four-year-olds class.

"What I love best about working at the JCC Preschool is that it is a play-based program," she said. "We meet the state standards by working with the children in a play-based learning environment, rather than sitting them down at a table and making them do ditto work. I love the fact that I can decide which activities to do in order to meet the lesson requirements. I hate making kids sit and work on dittos."

Moore holds an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbus State Community College. Prior to coming to the JCC, she worked at Children's World in Gahanna (now KinderCare). When not teaching at the JCC or planning lessons, she enjoys making beaded jewelry, reading fiction and mysteries, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her family - daughter, Rachel, age 17; son, Darian, age 12; and partner, David Harrington.

The Rabbi Nathan and Sylvia Gaynor Jewish Cultural Award - Awarded to unique, innovative and outstanding Jewish cultural and educational programs at the JCC. The Gaynor family created this award to recognize on-going Judaic activities at the JCC and their contribution to our community. This year's award goes to Gallery Players for the production of Parade, and was received by long-time Gallery Players supporters, Norma and Walt Whitmyer.

"It is an incredible honor to receive this award - especially for a show such as 'Parade,' which was a bit risky for Gallery Players to produce because of its serious nature. However, the brilliant work onstage by our cast generated strong box office returns as it was embraced by the entire community," said JCC Cultural Arts Director Jared Saltman. "To receive the Rabbi Nathan and Sylvia Gaynor Jewish Cultural Award is a shining achievement, as well as incredibly humbling and gratifying."

Helen Nutis Volunteer Mitzvah Award - This award recognizes outstanding volunteer efforts, exemplified by our long time volunteer, Helen Nutis. Nominations are for individuals or groups who have given outstanding volunteer contributions to assist the JCC. This year's award goes to Richard Williams, a JCC Board member, Maccabi Coach and JCC Youth Basketball Coach.

"The Nutis Volunteer Award is special because for whom it is named and how well she has served the JCC," said Williams. "Helen Nutis is a caring and contributing person to the JCC and the entire Jewish community. To be given an award with her name and volunteering activities, is a treasured honor."

"To volunteer and provide leadership services is a small way for me to give back to the JCC and its members. I have found that for my volunteer services, I have received much more than I have given," he said.

In addition to his work on the JCC Board, Williams has given a great deal to the JCC. He has coached JCC Youth Basketball for more than a decade, served four years as a volunteer Travel Basketball coach and five years as a Maccabi Games coach for Team Columbus, and also served as the Maccabi delegation chair in 2004. Currently, he is a member of the JCC's Adult and Youth Sports committees, Captain of the Adult Basketball team, and also serves as chair of the Maccabi Games Committee.

Williams and his wife of 22 years, Joanne, have six children - all of whom are JCC Preschool graduates. Williams has been an attorney for 26 years and is in private practice. He enjoys playing basketball, tennis, golf and reading history books.

JCC staff members who have reached milestones in their years of service also were recognized at the meeting. Those achieving five years of service are Beth Harmon, Stacey Baker, Elina Checkler, Yuri Kushnir, Kim Moore, Marie Quisumbing, Cheryl Robertson, Connie Walker, and Stan Sucan. Those recognized for 10 years of service are Jeanna Brownlee, Sue Vail, Joanie Calem, Linda Fischer, Valerie Lofton, Bobbi Sue Cornwell, and Gail Rosenblum. Debbie Romanoff was recognized for 20 years of service, and Holly Somogyi and Carol Folkerth both were saluted for their 25 years of service to the JCC. Staff members achieving these milestones received commemorative pins at the meeting.